Tamika Catchings and the Fever prevailed Friday night at the Garden. PHOTO COURTESY OF WNBA

NEW YORK – The visiting Indiana Fever, in the first of a two night home-and-home series, edged the New York Liberty, 82-81, in the final seconds of overtime at the "Mecca of Basketball" on Friday night. The victory was the fifth straight for the visitors, which kept the team on top of the Eastern Division standings in the 2009 WNBA regular season.

The two clubs have played in several historic games. Exactly one prior to the date of Friday's game, the two engaged in a three overtime war, a record length game for each team. Several weeks later, July 19, they met in the first outdoor contest in WNBA history. That game was played in the Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA National Tennis Center. On September 16, 2004, the two played in one of only six contests that were held at Radio City Music Hall while the Garden was being renovated for the Republican Party Convention. That game also went to overtime.

The first quarter on Friday featured very low scoring. The Liberty (2-5) scored the final seven points of the quarter to take a 13-7 advantage. Liberty center Janel McCarville had a hand in all of the Liberty points as she netted six and had assists on the other three Liberty baskets. The leading Liberty scorer, Shameka Christon, netted the first four points in the second quarter to give the New Yorkers its first double-digit lead, 17-7, with 9:21 left in the first half. Indiana (5-2) shot extremely poorly in the half, netting only 7 of 30 attempts from the floor. The Fever's most prolific scorer, Katie Douglas, missed all nine of her shots and was held scoreless.

A basket by Leilani Mitchell at 2:34 of the third gave the Liberty their largest margin of the game, 17 points (50-33). The momentum of the contest shifted late in the quarter as the visitors scored the final 10 points to cut the lead to six (52-46). Douglas and forward Ebony Hoffman each scored five points. Playing catch-up throughout the fourth quarter, the Fever tied the game at 59 with a trey by Douglas with 2:59 on the clock. The third and most important tied score (at 68) came by way of a three point jumper by Tameka Catchings with 14 seconds remaining in regulation time. The nail biter then went to overtime.

A 3-pointer by Loree Moore gave New York a five-point advantage, 80-75, as the clock ran down in the five-minute overtime. Indiana, led by Douglas, Catchings, and Hoffman scored seven of the game's eight final points. The game was decided at the free throw line as Hoffman sunk both attempts with 4.8 seconds remaining. The Indiana threesome were the only double figures scorers on their team. Douglas led with 28, all in the second half. Catchings and Hoffman each achieved double-doubles.

Catchings scored 24 and grabbed 11 rebounds; Hoffman had 14 rebounds and netted 17 points.

The Fever's veteran coach, Lin Dunn, told reporters, "To those fans that came, you certainly got your money's worth." The 9,304 in attendance may have been disappointed with the outcome, but recognized they witnessed an exciting contest.

Each coach praised the opposing team at the end of the basketball war. Dunn said, "They're [Liberty] a really fine team. Their record is not indicative of how well they play." Liberty coach Pat Coyle, in very brief remarks, said, "They're [Fever] a good team. All good teams come back."

Both teams flew to Indiana late that evening. Dunn said her expectations of the following night was, “Another war, survival of the mentally toughest."

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